Chapter 103: The Catalyst Mission

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[Turning Point Mission]
[Choose whether to inject the intrinsic stone extract]

The abrupt system prompt and the unprecedented type of mission echoed ceaselessly in Ye Chen’s mind.

What is a turning point mission?

Without hesitation, Ye Chen closed his eyes and plunged into his mental world.

On the bulletin board, a new mission sheet shimmered with golden light, markedly different in appearance from any previous ones.

Never mind what the reward might be for this turning point mission—why was he being made to choose whether to inject it?

If he injected it, he would gain some intrinsic value out of thin air. Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Unless there’s a problem with the extract?

No, that’s not it. The problem is the timing of this mission. He had a strong premonition that something bad would happen if he injected it.

Yet according to Youya, all these years, people had never stopped extracting and injecting the stuff.

From the perspective of the Transcendents’ Bureau, which serves all humanity, if there were truly any dangers, they would have halted this long ago. Why would they let it continue?

Ye Chen frowned in thought, quickly making a decision… This was a question of choice, a test of whether he could suppress his desire for intrinsic value enhancement.

A moment later, Ye Chen faced the mission sheet with a solemn expression and announced:

“I refuse to inject it!”

[Correct choice]
[Reward One: 1 point of intrinsic value]
[Reward Two: Beast-level Breath Technique]

“That’s all it takes to complete the mission?”

He stood there in astonishment, watching as the golden mission sheet dissolved into motes of light and merged into his body. Before his very eyes, his intrinsic value changed from 57/58 to 58/58.

His intrinsic value had increased!

The last point he had been unable to acquire through cultivation, no matter what he tried, was now his by such means.

Simultaneously, another piece of beast-hide paper appeared above the task bulletin board, burned to ash in blue flame, and flooded into Ye Chen’s mind.

A new breath technique imprinted itself instantly in his memory.

And his intrinsic value shifted to 58/996.

…

Ye Chen opened his eyes in a daze, the events in his mental world still feeling like a dream.

If I had chosen to inject the extract earlier, would the turning point mission have failed? Would I have been stuck here forever, forced to rely solely on stockpiling intrinsic stones to advance?

Most likely. After all, with the promise of an easy boost, who could resist such temptation?

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In short, everything had happened far too suddenly, but the outcome was good.

“Hey…hey…say something! Did you get so happy you’ve lost your mind?” A researcher’s voice sounded by his side, accompanied by a slap on the shoulder.

“Huh…what? What’s the matter?”

How could he tell I was that elated?

“What do you mean, what’s the matter? Do you know what you just drew? Brother, you’re incredible—thirty-nine points of intrinsic energy! That’s unprecedented. First, do you want to inject it yourself?”

Excitement radiated in the researcher’s voice. The stone wasn’t his, but to have extracted such value, he’d have bragging rights for life.

“Wh—what? Thirty-nine points!” Ye Chen, only just regaining his composure, exclaimed again in shock.

Thirty-nine points. Fifty-eight plus thirty-nine, that made ninety-seven—just three short of D-rank.

So that was why the turning point mission appeared. Without it, he truly would have chosen to inject without a second thought.

It was a clash between desire and reason!

The camera before the screen was focused on Ye Chen’s face, which, though seemingly conflicted, was in truth pounding with anxiety.

Unlike the quiet of the laboratory, the first-floor hall of the Bureau of Transcendence had already erupted into a frenzy, excitement sweeping through the crowd.

“Thirty-nine…did you see that? Someone actually extracted thirty-nine points of intrinsic energy.”

“He’s hit the jackpot, he’s really hit it this time.”

“The previous record was eighteen, right? That’s nothing now!”

“Yeah, the historical record’s been shattered. Do you know who he is? Next auction, I’ll pay just to have him accompany me.”

“Hmph, you think you’ll get that chance?”

“…”

The hall was abuzz with excitement, as if everyone had witnessed a miracle.

But there was one who did not join in the celebration. She quietly slipped away towards a corner of the hall, distancing herself from the clamor and standing there in silence.

Youzhi noticed his sister’s odd expression and followed her. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you buy that raw stone? Why aren’t you happy?”

Youya replied woodenly, “I paid for it, but…Ye Chen was the one who picked the stone.”

“What? That kid’s luck is that good?”

Youya suddenly raised her head, her gaze boring into her brother’s eyes. “No, it’s not just luck. I think it’s not that simple.”

Their surprise was only just beginning. From the screen came Ye Chen’s voice:

“I choose not to inject it myself. I’ve decided to sell this vial of extract—on-site transaction!”

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Everyone turned to the big screen in disbelief, the siblings staring at each other in utter shock.

“Is he strapped for cash?” Youzhi asked.

“Is he out of his mind?” Youya muttered.

“Are you sure?” The researcher reconfirmed.

Ye Chen was no longer lost in a daze. Instead, he put on the swaggering air of a nouveau riche: “I’m sure. Come on, cash for goods, right here!”

This was tangible profit, after all. Besides, with a new breath technique in hand, was he really missing that last bit of intrinsic value?

For a rational person, it was fortunate not to have made the foolish mistake of picking up sesame seeds only to lose a watermelon.

Leaving aside the question of strengthening himself, he felt that having a large amount of money would help him live a better life in this world.

Is strength important? Of course.

But money is just as essential!

He thought of Ye Shanshan, out there every day braving wind and rain to set up her stall.

…At last, he could persuade her to stop working the streets.

…

In Director Youzhi’s office at the Bureau of Transcendence.

The usually cluttered coffee table had been cleared for once, though several greasy ring stains remained.

But such things didn’t matter. What mattered was the black, gold-edged credit card resting on the tabletop—the highest grade of card, a symbol of status and power, loaded with a staggering sum.

When Director Youzhi produced that card, Ye Chen couldn’t tear his eyes away.

There were thirty-six million in the account. According to Youzhi, the vial of intrinsic stone extract had ultimately been taken by the Research Institute, under the pretext of the city lord’s authority.

Since it was extracted from the same stone, with identical origin, the effects of injection might be even better.

The Research Institute was exceedingly generous, raising the price to forty million without hesitation.

After deducting a four-million extraction fee, there were thirty-six million left on the card.

Ye Chen didn’t care who the buyer was—what mattered was that now, he was rich.

But at this moment, across from him, Youya was staring coldly, clearly displeased. Her already frosty features seemed to be covered with an additional layer of ice.